The event was considered China's worst flood in 40 years. In the summer of 1998, China experienced massive flooding of parts of the Yangtze River, resulting in 3,704 dead, 15 million homeless and $26 billion in economic loss.

Other sources report a total loss of 4150 people, and 180 million people affected. A staggering 25 million acres (100,000 km2) were evacuated, 13.3 million houses were damaged or destroyed.